Editing Down (band) (section)

===Formation and ''NOLA'' (1991–1998)===
{{Main|NOLA (album)}}

{{Quote box |align=left |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center |width=20em |quote=NOLA has always reminded me sound-wise and approach-wise as a really loud demo, and it was based on three three-song demos that we did just for fun. We were still growing and finding out what we were as a band, and we were into a lot of bands that were influenced by Black Sabbath, like St. Vitus, Trouble and Witchfinder General.|source=[[Phil Anselmo]] on Down's first album<ref>{{cite web|last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453044/pantera-frontman-gets-down-dirty.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145119/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453044/pantera-frontman-gets-down-dirty.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |title=Pantera's Phil Anselmo Gets Down And Dirty – Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV.com |date=2002-03-25 |access-date=2012-05-10}}</ref>}}

Down formed in 1991 with vocalist [[Phil Anselmo]] of [[Pantera]], drummer [[Jimmy Bower]] of [[Eyehategod]], guitarists [[Pepper Keenan]] of [[Corrosion of Conformity]] and [[Kirk Windstein]] of [[Crowbar (American band)|Crowbar]] and bassist Todd Strange, also of Crowbar. All of the band members were longtime friends, and shared interest in bands such as [[Black Sabbath]], [[Trouble (band)|Trouble]], and [[Saint Vitus (band)|Saint Vitus]], which would significantly influence the music they made.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} The band made a three-track demo for underground trading. In an effort to build a fan base, Anselmo and Keenan would ask heavy metal fans if they had ever "heard of this band, Down" and hand them copies of the tape without telling the person that they were in the band.<ref name="Revolver">{{cite journal| author=Geist, Brandon |date=November 2007 |title=Never Say Die |journal=[[Revolver Magazine]] }}</ref><ref name="Stormbringer">{{cite web|url=http://www.stormbringerwebzine.co.uk/Interviews/Pepper_Keenan.htm |title=Interview with Pepper Keenan (Down and C.O.C.) |publisher=Stormbringerwebzine.co.uk |access-date=February 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107020249/http://www.stormbringerwebzine.co.uk/Interviews/Pepper_Keenan.htm |archive-date=November 7, 2007 }}</ref> Eventually, the tape was distributed throughout the United States and Down played a small concert in its hometown. A record executive from [[Elektra Records]] was attending the show. When he found out who the members of the band were, he signed Down to a recording contract.<ref name="Stormbringer"/>

Down released its debut album, ''[[NOLA (album)|NOLA]]'', on September 19, 1995,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=J. |date=2008-07-01 |title=Down - "NOLA" |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2008/07/01/down-nola/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=Decibel Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> debuting at number 55 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. [[AllMusic]] reviewer David Reamer gave the album a nearly perfect 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising the songs "Temptations Wings", "[[Stone the Crow]]", and "Bury Me in Smoke". Reamer stated that "this is a landmark album that combines the talents of dedicated rock musicians, and should be included in any collection of heavy metal music."<ref>{{cite web| author=Reamer, David |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r224086|pure_url=yes}} |title=''NOLA'' overview |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=February 27, 2008}}</ref> ''NOLA'' was supported by a 13-date tour, and afterward the band went on hiatus in order to return to their respective bands.<ref name="Revolver"/>